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Naomi Campbell’s baby and the legends of aging parents

In a new documentary examining the life of Charlie Chaplin, filmmakers explore the cultural legacy of the actor-turned-global icon playing a diminutive wanderer. In addition to being a talented mime and vaudevillian, despite being attributed with lachrymose affection (I’ve always been on Team Buster Keaton), he’s also an elderly parent.

Chaplin had his last child, Christopher James Chaplin, in 1962, more than 40 years after his first child. At the age of 73, he became a descendant of masculinity and a patron saint of those juniors whose other famous members include Michael Douglas (58 years old), Paul McCartney (61 years old) and Steve. Martin, who became a father for the first time at the age of 67. Mick Jagger became the oldest celebrity father in 2016, when he won Chaplin’s longstanding, though unofficial, title. But Chaplin’s name is still called an example of forever fatherhood by men.

That men are not forced to make life choices based on their biological makeup continues to be an awkward argument that often leads to unhappy outcomes. Women are terrorized when they learn that their fertility begins to plummet as soon as they turn 30. Men don’t want to go through their early adulthood without being held accountable.

I’m still haunted by the words once written by my colleague Janan Ganesh about the joy of being in your thirties. He argues that the best decade of life is especially fulfilling because you have “more energy”, have a “hard social life” and are able to explore “the curiosities of youth”. On the contrary, I recall being in my thirties as my greatest challenge physically and mentally: my social life came to a standstill, my career stalled, and I devoted myself to raising my young children.

While I’m cautious about flagging so many different behaviors, it seems to be a good illustration of the traditionally different attitudes men and women have about aging. For many women, the terrible and resounding certainty of one’s reduced fertility poses a difficult barrier to one’s ambitions. And while I’m not suggesting that many young men aren’t eager to become fathers, it does suggest that conversations about partnerships, family, and future often start from different perspectives.

As the age of birth increases (according to the Office for National Statistics, 50.1% of women born in 1990 are childless when they turned 30), so did the infertility rate. One in seven heterosexual couples in the UK face fertility problems and the number is growing. Despite advances in medical technology, the results from infertility treatments are still relatively scary. There is a startling lack of transparency about the success of IVF treatment (only 8% if you’re over 40), while women who use their own frozen eggs for treatment have an average success rate. average is only 18%.

Naomi Campbell and her daughter on the cover of Vogue

However, very few people like to talk about this, because it sounds too important and confusing. No one wants to tell their 39-year-old fifth IVF friend that the chances of conceiving are slim. And sadly, private facilities don’t offer such treatments either, because they make too much money. Instead, we tend to be optimistic when it comes to childbirth because we’re not total monsters and the truth is just too hard to believe. We talk about miraculous births and wonderful surprises and then adore older mothers.

This week, for example, found Naomi Campbell, 51, on the cover of Vogue looks happy with her nine-month-old daughter. “I always knew I’d have a baby one day,” the caption reads, along with the words “Mother picture.”

Details of the birth are unknown, except for Campbell’s assertion that the baby “wasn’t adopted”. The model, who conducted the interview on the plane from Qatar, said her baby is “a good girl”, “sleeps well” and is completely used to Campbell’s handling of international schedules. She did not discuss the baby’s name. She also talked about the topic of her daughter’s father. She’s currently writing a book that might tell us more, but Naomi’s baby is Naomi’s business.

Charlie Chaplin holds his 11th and last child, Christopher James Chaplin, in 1962 in Switzerland. Chaplin was 73 years old at the time © ullstein billd via Getty Images

In many ways, Campbell’s motherhood experience would be seen as a vindication of feminism: she had children, on her terms, when she was ready and defied medical convention. She’s also a sign that more and more women (and men) are choosing to be single parents from the moment they’re conceived.

Just as Chaplin helped men out of long-term demands, Campbell will now become a role model for women who also want to enjoy their thirties, engage in strenuous social activities, and satisfy their mind. curious about their youth. Science can get so advanced that 51-year-old moms become pretty normal. But I can’t help but feel that the story is inserted into a broader and sometimes dangerous story in which people think motherhood can happen to people. anyone. Every child is a miracle, but the journey to having one is increasingly expensive and emotionally devastating.

Email Jo at the address jo.ellison@ft.com

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